Epidemiology of skin cancer

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to find out the skin cancer distribution, level of risk and histopathological typing. Retrospective cancer registry-based study. Cancer Research Unit, Basrah Medical College. The study was performed from 2005 to 2009. Four hundred fifty-seven new cases were registered during five years. Eighty-three cases were not inhabitants of Basrah governorate and were excluded from statistical analysis. Therefore, the sample used in the study is 374 [81.8%]. Skin cancer accounts for 4.7% of all new cancer cases registered from 2005 to 2009. The mean age of skin cancer cases was 54.8+18.4 years. The risk increased with advancing age in both sexes in terms of relative frequency and in age specific incidence. Skin cancer has a major share among total cancer cases in Basrah. Further analytical epidemiological study to identify the determinants of local patterns is advised.